Window treatments

Spring and summer are great for drawing our attention back to our windows. The world outside is beautiful and we want to bring it inside. But the windows are more than just functional. They are important parts of the style of our home and a key way of making them stand out is with our window treatments.

The proper treatment can bring out the character of a room.

When considering treatments, first consider what kind of window it is for. The window itself will help determine what kinds of curtains and draperies work best.

The designers at Michael Nash Design, Build and Home can help you find what works best not just for the window, but also for you and the look you are trying to achieve.

Blinds and shades come in a variety of materials from fabric, wood, faux wood and others, including venetian blinds that can be metal or plastic. There are also blinds made of bamboo and other materials. You may also choose to go with light filtering shades. These also come in a variety of materials, man-made and natural.

For larger windows and patio doors, you might choose to go with curtains. You might even add an additional bit of style to a window by using a sheer curtain over a blind or shade.

As with most home design items, there are many options and materials for curtains, from silk to man-made materials. Curtains can also be insulated, providing a green element to your style by helping to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Don’t forget this key design element of your curtains – the curtain rod. It can be simple or ornate and comes in a number of looks like pewter, brushed bronze, oil rubbed bronze, burnished brass and a variety of blacks and browns.

Finally, you can add another design element to a window, one that also can provide privacy – a film treatment. This can be as simple as giving your window a frosted and beveled look or it can be a stained glass window look.

Your window brings you the best of what the world outside has to offer at this time of year. It’s right that it should look its best too!

Tips for your summer remodeling

With summer’s arrival soon, many of us our geared up to do some remodeling. We feel energized and may run the risk of getting carried away. So here are a few tips to help you stay on course and get the remodel you are dreaming of.

Don’t get overwhelmed

We’ve mentioned this one before but it’s worth repeating. Be realistic about what can be accomplished and what you can manage. Remodeling usually involves disruption and some handle it better than others. Know what you are comfortable with and plan accordingly.

Budget 

Similar to the tip above about not getting overwhelmed by the project, be sure you don’t take on something you can’t realistically afford. Budgets are one of the keys to all successful remodeling projects.


Quality materials

Be sure to consult with professionals (like those at Michael Nash) and get a clear idea of what you can expect from the materials you choose. Costlier materials are often more durable, require less upkeep, repair or replacement. If your budget can’t accommodate the materials you really need, consider postponing the project till a time when you can. Cheaper materials can often cost you more over time.


Don’t create work for yourself 

Check with professionals and get a clear idea of what kind of upkeep may or may not be required with the materials you’ve chosen. For example, stainless steel is easy to clean but it also shows smudges easily. Some materials may be easy to clean but require cleaning more often. Get a good idea of what your chosen materials will mean in terms of longevity and in terms of upkeep.

Lighting

The colors of your home will only work if they receive the proper lighting. During the day, this will usually be natural light from windows and other sources. In the evening and at night, the lamps and fixtures will determine the look. So when you are making your changes, be sure you take time to determine how you will light your room.

Choose with “you” in mind 

Your home should reflect who you are. In other words, no matter how wonderful it may look, if it isn’t “you” it’s unlikely you’ll be happy with it for long. It won’t feel like your home. So concern yourself with what appeals to you first.

Summer home improvement ideas

Summer officially starts in just a few weeks so we thought it might be time to list some remodeling ideas that are worth considering at this time of year. You’ll notice that they focus on the outside of your home. The reason is simple: the warm weather months are the best time to consider upgrading the outside of your house!
So here are a few things to consider for projects:
Deck:
Nothing says “summer” like a deck. There are many different types but most people go with wood. However, there are also many types of wood, including some that may be more environmentally friendly. So take your time in planning and choosing before making a decision.
Paint or siding:
The most basic of all outdoor remodels is the outside of the house – a new paint color or a new colored siding. And don’t forget, especially where siding is concerned, new siding is a great opportunity to upgrade your insulation to make your home more energy efficient.
Irrigation system (lawn & garden):
Your home is more than your house. It’s also the land it is on including the yards surrounding it. When it comes to selling and “curb appeal” these can become very important.
Even if selling isn’t on your mind, attractive grounds make your home more welcoming while also saying something about who you are. So consider irrigation systems. There are a number of types and they can serve different purposes. Some are more about your lawn (like sprinklers) and some are more about parts of your garden (like a drip system).
Landscaping:
Overall landscaping is about more than cutting the lawn. It’s about the lawn and gardens, where they are and how they are maintained. If you are giving the outside of your home “a makeover” consider starting with a plan.
Windows:
While windows allow light in and can add a stylish aspect to the interior of your home, they also add style to the outside. Windows are where indoor and outdoor meet. So a great summer remodeling project is replacing or upgrading existing windows. It could also be adding new windows, or a dormer or even a skylight. You might also consider installing patio doors.
Summer is a beautiful season. Windows help bring that beauty inside!

Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes. Fairfax Virginia

Here are some of award winning projects from Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes

A primary palette of c

by admin on Friday, May 21st, 2010 | No Comments

When it comes to kitchen décor, “there are two categories of people,” explains Sonny Nazemian of Michael Nash Custom Kitchens & Homes, Inc. “Those who love stain and those who love color.” In this case, clients Jane and Alan Luba of Centreville, Virginia, fell emphatically into the latter category. The homeowners, who have a modern sensibility, approached him to design a sleek, minimalist kitchen with strong colors and finishes.

They began with the cabinetry. “We went through four colors before Jane saw the one she wanted,” Nazemian says. “She was after this particular shade of blue.” The cabinets are wood—their final finish: cobalt blue, high-gloss lacquer and acrylic. The design team added a row of stainless-steel and frosted-glass cabinets at ceiling level to create a visual connection with the kitchen’s stainless-steel appliances and backsplash.Jane Luba, who owns her own cateringbusiness, also wanted to reconfigure the layout of her kitchen for better flow. Nazemian’s team opened up the space between the kitchen and family room, created a door to the dining room, and transformed the peninsula into an island. They also introduced much larger appliances, relocated them and added better lighting. “When you work with colors, you need proper lighting,” Nazemian says. “Semi-warm halogen lights showed the blue best.”

A primary palette of cheerful blues and reds provides inspiration for an unusual contemporary kitchen

by admin on Friday, May 21st, 2010 | No Comments

3Share

When it comes to kitchen décor, “there are two categories of people,” explains Sonny Nazemian of Michael Nash Custom Kitchens & Homes, Inc. “Those who love stain and those who love color.” In this case, clients Jane and Alan Luba of Centreville, Virginia, fell emphatically into the latter category. The homeowners, who have a modern sensibility, approached him to design a sleek, minimalist kitchen with strong colors and finishes.

They began with the cabinetry. “We went through four colors before Jane saw the one she wanted,” Nazemian says. “She was after this particular shade of blue.” The cabinets are wood—their final finish: cobalt blue, high-gloss lacquer and acrylic. The design team added a row of stainless-steel and frosted-glass cabinets at ceiling level to create a visual connection with the kitchen’s stainless-steel appliances and backsplash.Jane Luba, who owns her own cateringbusiness, also wanted to reconfigure the layout of her kitchen for better flow. Nazemian’s team opened up the space between the kitchen and family room, created a door to the dining room, and transformed the peninsula into an island. They also introduced much larger appliances, relocated them and added better lighting. “When you work with colors, you need proper lighting,” Nazemian says. “Semi-warm halogen lights showed the blue best.”

Born and bred in Alabama, Gina Jones is drawn to the stately demeanor of many traditional Southern homes. When she and her husband, Dennis Porter, purchased their Oakton, Virginia, house, however, it was sorely lacking in stateliness. "The house had great bones but not much personality," Jones recalls. One of a row of model homes belonging to an adjacent development, it was positioned sideways on its one-acre lot, without a formal front entrance. After living in the house for some years, Jones, an Internet publisher, and Porter, an Air Force officer, were ready to renovate.
They tapped Sonny Nazemian of Michael Nash Custom Kitchens & Homes, Inc., for the job, which originally entailed pushing out the back of the house to get extra space. "I drew up plans," Nazemian says, "but none of it satisfied what Gina really wanted. When we sug­gested adding onto the front instead, it all fell into place."

Jones had long been frustrated by her home's uninspired front facade. "I wanted a Southern, antebellum look like what I grew up with," she says. She requested a two-level porch, and once Nazemian and his team re-oriented the entry to the front and painted the HardiePlank siding a vivid, inviting blue, the gracious, Southern-style home Jones had always wanted began to emerge.
Inside, the two-story addition includes a spacious foyer that has been embellished with wide crown molding and pillars to commu­nicate traditional elegance. The foyer opens seamlessly into an open-plan living room/dining room that is more contemporary in style, and injects a welcome formality to the rest of the house.
Adjacent to the foyer, Nazemian added a guest suite with a private entrance and a Brazilian slate-tiled bath that boasts granite countertops and cherry cabinetry. This convenient guest suite is intended to accommodate long-term visits from Jones's aging parents.